Randomised trial, 2020
Does saffron work for PMDD as well as fluoxetine?
Saffron improved PMDD symptoms similarly to fluoxetine, with fewer side effects than fluoxetine.
What they did
120 women with PMDD were randomly assigned to take either 15 mg saffron twice daily, 20 mg fluoxetine twice daily, or placebo for 2 weeks during the luteal phase of their cycle for 2 menstrual cycles. Symptoms were measured with questionnaires and side effects were recorded.
What they found
All three groups improved significantly. On one symptom measure, saffron and fluoxetine worked better than placebo. On another measure, there was no significant difference between the three groups. Fluoxetine caused significantly more side effects than saffron or placebo.
What it means for you
Saffron might work for PMDD and has fewer side effects than fluoxetine. This was a moderate-sized study and needs to be confirmed in larger studies. Saffron could be a good natural option for women who want to avoid fluoxetine's side effects.
120
women studied
15 mg
saffron dose twice daily
20 mg
fluoxetine dose twice daily
About the study
- Original title
- Saffron for the Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Rajabi F, Rahimi M, Sharbafchizadeh MR et al.
- Journal
- Advanced biomedical research
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 120
- What was tested
- Saffron 15 mg twice daily versus fluoxetine 20 mg twice daily versus placebo, for 2 weeks in luteal phase, for 2 menstrual cycles
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4103/abr.abr_49_20
Topics
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